Friday, April 13, 2007

Greta is 10.5 pounds, up a bit, but she was thin when I got her, and after all the surgery stuff I think she’s just about right. Mr. Cody is 9.5; he weighed 7.5 when I got him and was at a good weight. Clearly, his racing career is in jeopardy.

I think the culprit is the cat box, gross as that may be. So, I must set about with a plan to elevate the cat box. The terms of my lease specify that cat boxes must be on linoleum (not on the hardwoods). As I searched in my mind for the perfect poo platform for Pasht, I realized I already had one-the new snake rack. She likes it anyway because it is warm, and flat and the top is up “high”, about 4 feet. It’s wide enough to provide a good solid support for her so I won’t need to add rails. Problem solved.

Getting two wiggly, one fearful (Cody) and one sometimes aggressive (Greta) dogs up a set of steps and into the vets/kennel was a trial. Let’s just say it is not a good idea to start up the steps with one dog under your arm (Cody’s collar was chewed up) and one dog on the lead (Greta) and one hand on the walker. Fortunately, someone saw my plight and came and grabbed Cody, once in inside we got settled and Greta was a good girl, even being handed off to the male vet tech. GO Greta! However, that ordeal sucked out all the positive, calm assertive I energy I have left for the day. Well, maybe not.

Before even leaving the house, I set up a warm, wet hide (revamped dog carrier) for Alfred Hitchcock-who is shedding. He’s not a hissy, striking shedder, instead he curls up in a round fat ball with his head on top making sure that you notice he is uncomfortable and completely and utterly miserable. Too miserable to move to make room for the hide; and completely unable to actually crawl into the hide. Hooking and lifting about 10+ pounds of miserable snake into a box with no help whatsoever from the snake is challenging. He is the perfect picture of someone who has made it to the top of the food chain, he OWNS his space, and expects respect and servitude from those who enter it.

Bette Davis observed this with complete disdain. She’s very catlike, and anything that doesn’t directly impact her must be observed with utter disregard. She also crawls into her water tray and soaks HERSELF when she’s shedding-she doesn’t wait for someone to help her. I love Bette. Her new “husband” is arriving this weekend but I will have to do the same soul searching to figure out if I can actually part with the hatchlings.

The same goes for the Balls-I adore She, and Zsa Zsa and feisty Eva-future brides of Alfred. I am actually trading Alice Cooper to a local snake friend because I can’t bear the idea that he won’t be allowed to breed if he stays with me.

I’m just not cut out for the “business” of animals. I’ll return on Sunday with new tales and pictures of the Spotties and Dolly.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

It's the fabulous one's 8th birthday-she's a grand little old lady dog. We'll celebrate with proper snuggles this weekend but I wanted to put it out into the universe that the most fabulous, wonderful, brilliant and beautiful butt sniffer of all (reference to my last post) is a whopping 8 years old today. She's one eye down, got a pin in her leg, but she's still going strong and mistress of my world.

Remember Mr. Bill-the little clay man and he’d go OH NO and then something would smash him flat? Well, that’s the way my leg felt yesterday. So I stayed home and stayed flat. But, it may not yet be time to bring the Spotties home-I don’t know if I can handle the added steps just yet. I have a few days to decide and maybe things will change. I miss the girls.

For some reason, if I move Greta and Cody into the back bedroom, they don’t bark when I come home, etc. I guess they feel like that 10 extra feet from the front door means they are no longer on guard duty. Getting them into the vets office is going to be a challenge in the morning. Heck, getting them into the car is going to be a challenge. Walking with the walker with two dogs on lead is a talent I have yet to master. Using the brace coupler actually makes things worse not better.

I’ve been reading lots of ads that stay “I NEED a free Yorkie”, well I’m here to tell you immature person, you need, food, you need water, you don’t NEED a Yorkie. When did dogs get to be a bonafide need instead of a privilege and honor? I DO need my dogs, but I am prepared to pay for that need.

One of the most frequent ploys is “My one year old, two year old, etc., NEEDS a small dog”-bullshit. Your one year old needs a stuffed toy and a few years to learn about how to behave properly around small dogs. If you are running ads to get people to give you things your one year old NEEDS why on earth are you having kids to begin with?

Another fave-My old grandmother needs a friend-double bullshit. Your old grandmother needs YOU to spend more time with her. If she is on a fixed income, she doesn’t need another mouth to feed. If grandma is in no shape to go out and get her own dog, she probably will need help caring for that dog. Have you thought about that and are you prepared to step up?

Dogs are dogs. They are not siblings, they are not surrogate children, although they are often expected to function as such. How unfair is that?

And saying my dog is a dog and not a child doesn’t mean I love them any less. If accepting kisses from someone who regularly licks their own ass isn’t love and acceptance, what is?

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Cody will be running in the Petco Chihuahua races. It remains to be seen whether or not he’ll run down the track or off somewhere else. Cody is vastly unpredictable-but he’s got the “I’m sorry” act down so well it doesn’t really matter.

My friend Sue is going to be the holder for the endeavor. We are going to practice. Cody also needs to lose weight. So do I.

Monday, April 9, 2007

I went into the back bedroom and encountered naughtiness of the worst kind-POO. The chi’s really really hate the cold and they are taking advantage of my slow state right now.

I had to leave it (thank god for hardwoods) so a clean and a scrub with enzymes will take care of it this evening.

Now, seeing poo on the floor is not the way I care to start my Monday morning, but I really sat and stared at it and thought about it for a bit. “This,” I thought, “is the very reason why people get rid of their dogs. Poo and chewing are probably the most annoying things dogs do.”

And really, I just don’t get it. I don’t. Why would you let a thing like a turd come between you and someone you love? The most obnoxious feces takes less than 10 minutes to clean (we are talking runny sick stuff). A simple “I don’t want to go out in the cold” dump is a three minute job, followed by remembering to keep the doors closed or the dogs crated until they display better behavior (or the weather warms up).

Not to put too fine a point to it, but is picking up a dog turd any worse than wiping your own butt? Now, I know some of you have done other people’s laundry-and you wouldn’t send someone away for putting some dirty under drawers in the laundry basket. And come on, babies are little poo-machines and no one shuns them. I do, however, hand them back to Mama if the diaper is loaded.

Dogs are dogs. They don’t eliminate in toilets and they quite often eat indelicate things and then pass gas where ever they happen to be at the moment. People who are upset by that shouldn’t have dogs.

Sunday, April 8, 2007

The dogs hae displayed an interest in their new log dog cabin-but for actual usage it's probably going to be more of a lawn ornament. It does make the backyard look cozier though, and who knows, a squirrel or a rabbit might take a nap in it..

It snowed yesterday but did not stick and the few times the dogs went out they were too busy playing in the snow to want to take refuge. Today the extended three day cold spell has taken it's toll and Greta and Cody have spent a lot of time sleeping. I have never actually set in some new chairs I bought right before surgery (no arms and kind of low) but Greta and Cody and Pasht have already annointed them with various shades of hair. Pasht actually prefers the footstool with a blanket on it, but she shares when I need to prop up my foot.

About Me

I decided it was time for a new profile, but I'm still not sure what to say. I think the best way to get to know me is to get to know me. I could TELL you anything, but I might be wrong, or self delusional. So, I'll just say Howdy!